Beebe vetoes bill to ban abortions at 12 weeks

The Democratic governor on Monday vetoed the bill that opponents say, if enacted, would be the strictest prohibition on abortions in the nation. It would ban abortions 12 weeks into a pregnancy if a fetal heartbeat is detected using an abdominal ultrasound.

The Republican-led Legislature gave the measure final approval last week.

Beebe also had vetoed another measure banning abortions 20 weeks into a pregnancy, but the Legislature overrode that on Thursday.

Beebe has said both measures are unconstitutional and would open the state to legal challenges.